Sassy Shifter Brides: Complete Series - BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Mail-Order Romance (25 page)

The pit of her stomach fluttered with butterflies. Oh, there was no doubt in her mind that Slate was the man for her. The one she wanted, the one she needed and the one she would like to spend her days with. But what he was saying gave her a lot to think about. It was a big commitment for both of them.

“I want you too,” she said, mirroring his smile as he sat across from her. “But it’s a very big decision. You say that we either go through this Bonding now or you will never have cubs?” she asked. More than anything she wanted to have children with a man she knew would be there for her and her children, as well as be a good father for them. Slate certainly fit the bill, but what if he changed his mind later? What if they were so caught up in their infatuation that when it came to living together day to day, they’d find they couldn’t stand each other? She couldn’t imagine it happening, but rationally she knew it was a possibility. Doubts swirled in her mind, but her heart only said one thing – yes! Yes, be his! Yes, accept him as your own for now and forever!

Slate reached over to her, gently plucking the mug from her hands and placing it on the table. Then, he clasped her small palms in his big paws and shifted from the couch, getting down on one knee in front of her. Teresa’s breath caught in her chest. Was he doing what she thought he was doing?

“Teresa, I know this is a lot to ask. I can’t promise that everything will be okay forever, though I would try my best to make it so. In my heart, I know you are the woman for me. Even if you say that this is too much for you, I wouldn’t go searching for another. I resigned myself to a life without cubs a long time ago but with you, I would gladly have as many as we could! If you wanted them, that is. I’ve been keeping my hands off of you because I didn’t know if I could bond with a human like that, even though when I first saw you, I knew you were my fated mate. My love, my light. I didn’t want to force you into a life you weren’t ready for. That’s why I couldn’t go further with you. But trust me when I say that I wanted to. God, I wanted to touch you so badly, to have you… to kiss your beautiful lips and claim you. If this is something you think you could be ready for, then say the word, and I’ll carry you to the bedroom right now. And if you’re not, then I’ll behave until the time is over, and we can try being together without the pressure. Just you and me.”

Teresa’s cheeks lit with a blush. Being next to him without him touching her again had been torture. At least it was a small bit of solace that it had been as hellish for him as it had been for her. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, feeling the warmth of Slate’s touch spread through her body. She knew what she wanted. It might have sounded mad, foolhardy and a decision made much too quickly, but she wanted children, and she most certainly wanted Slate. Having both seemed like a no-brainer.

“Slate, I want you too,” she said, her voice coming out small. “I’m ready. I’ve always wanted babies, and I’ve dreamed of having a family with a man who loved and respected me. I can’t think of anything better.” Teresa smiled brightly as Slate’s face lit up. The man grabbed her into a tight hug, pulling her into his lap and then kissing her savagely, all the pent up stress flooding out of him. She wrapped her hands around his neck, soaking up all the love he had to offer. Her core pulsed with need.

“I love you, Teresa,” Slate whispered between fevered kisses, his hands already undoing her top as she pulled on his shirt.

“I love you too,” Teresa gasped as Slate kissed her face, her neck, her chest, moving downward and making her need increase tenfold.  She pulled off his shirt and fell on the plush carpet between the chairs, giggling. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace, casting a warm glow over their bodies. Slate paused for a moment, his amazing body lit by the soft blaze as he looked down on her. Right then and there Teresa felt like the most beautiful woman in the world, and she was overcome with the knowledge that he would look at her like that every day for the rest of their lives. She didn’t need outside confirmation for their love. Simply, she knew.

He smiled that rakish smile of his, and her fingers slipped up along his still-damp jeans until reaching his belt buckle. She undid it quickly, her fingertips brushing against his hard abs as she pulled down the jeans.

“One last chance, Teresa. Are you sure you’re ready to commit to me forever? You’d make me the happiest man alive if you did,” he said, just a hint of worry passing through his expression. She quickly wiped it away by smiling at him and drawing him nearer to her by his pant pockets.

“Yes,” she whispered, his face was inches from hers. “I want you, Slate,” she said, and those words seemed to release a torrent of carefully wound up need in Slate.

He kissed her with reckless abandon, his hands quickly unclasping her bra and tearing it off of her. She kissed him back with matched zeal, each taste of him a piece of heaven. Teresa pushed down his jeans without a second thought, and her hand gripped his hard cock, rigid and impressive against her palm. He hissed in a breath and wiggled her out of her pants as well, desperate to be inside of her. Teresa glanced down, and an involuntary groan escaped her lips at the sight of Slate’s massive erection, making her wonder how it was ever going to fit. But she was so wet already and had been waiting so eagerly for this moment that there could be no other way. It was going to be fucking fantastic. She wouldn’t accept anything less.

Teresa rubbed the length of his cock a few times, loving the way her fingers barely touched one another around his girth. She circled her thumb over the head, and he moaned with pleasure, his lips hot on her neck. Then, he grabbed her by the wrist and pinned her hand above her head, kissing her on the lips once more as he spread her legs and settled between them. Purring grumbles sounded from his throat, resonating through her as she bucked against his hips, eager to have him in her. Slate’s cock pressed against her slit, spreading the wet folds.

“Please, take me,” she begged, her voice no more than a whimper. His lips trekked lower, sucking one of her nipples into his mouth and teasing it with his teeth as she squirmed underneath him. Finally, he took mercy on her. She’d been dreaming of the moment since they met, and when it happened, it was even better than what she had dared hope for.

He thrust into her with one fast, hard motion, filling her. Teresa squealed, her muscles tensing as he stroked into her, inch by inch filling her with fast, hard thrusts. It knocked the breath right out of her, and she was left heaving and teetering on the brink of her release when he sunk into her fully. Slate released her wrist, and she clung to him with both hands, her nails scraping down his back as he begun thrusting into her with longer movements, filling her completely each time. Teresa saw stars behind her closed eyelids, and when her eyes fluttered open, she stared at the gorgeous man she had accepted as her mate, her husband for life. His expression was tense, wrought with ecstasy, and she loved knowing she did that to him – that being with her brought him such bliss. Teresa buried her face in his chest as he plowed into her, each thrust more urgent, more powerful than the previous one. She shook with desire, her peak so close.

“Oh my god,” she whispered as Slate growled, the sound travelling through her. No man had taken her like that before. It was so raw and primal that she could barely believe it was reality, not some raunchy, delicious dream.

He kissed her again, claiming her mouth with his, and she couldn’t take it any longer. Her body convulsed, and her pussy milked him hungrily, yearning for his seed. Teresa screamed out as she tumbled over the edge, and Slate held her tight, rutting into her. Slate joined her not a moment later, roaring as he reached his finish. The sound made the rafters shake, and the look of utter relief on Slate’s face didn’t escape Teresa. She held onto him as she shuddered through her orgasm, knowing that his cum was spilling into her, filling her and that they could very well be creating new life already. It excited her. Everything about their life together did.

When he pulled out, his arms went around her automatically, embracing her. Teresa smiled as her head fell against his chest, and she reveled in his heavy breathing, both of them spent, happy and completely satisfied. For some time, they simply lay there, contented in one another’s arms, listening to the crackling of the fire.

“Wow. Can we do that again?” Teresa asked, grinning. Slate chuckled, lifting his head to kiss her on the forehead.

“Every day for the rest of our lives. And right now, obviously.” A second later, he was already covering her with kisses, making Teresa giggle and squirm under his touch.

Who knew that going on a small vacation would be the best thing she could ever do for herself?! Teresa could look forward to a whole new life, one with more excitement, support and love she could ever have hoped for. And one thing was certain, she wasn’t going to let any insecurities ever stop her from going after something she wanted again!

EPILOGUE

Teresa smiled as she walked through the building, the warm summer breeze throwing her wavy hair about her face. Every now and then, her hands would brush over her stomach, quietly nurturing the life that was growing inside of her. She wasn’t showing yet, and she wasn’t ready to tell anyone other than Slate, but her world was already filled with excited flutters and big hopes for her family, which would soon be one little shifter stronger.

The building sat on a hill, though only the walls had been erected at that point. Still, it gave her a chance to meander around and imagine where everything would be. Where she would put the teacher’s desk, how many tables with art supplies and coloring books she would have, where the beds would be, and so on. Everything needed to run a nice cozy little kindergarten.

She was entranced by thoughts of color schemes and wall embellishment when Slate came rushing up behind her, pulling a hand through his hair as he took steps that seemed to cover the ground with almost effortless ease. In a few bounds, he was behind Teresa, drawing her into his protective, loving embrace. He kissed her neck, and she giggled happily, throwing her head back to rest on his shoulder. His hands went to her belly as well, stroking it with a gentle touch.

“And how are my two favorite people?” he cooed, resting his head against hers.

“You just saw me a minute ago!” Teresa said with a smile, twirling around to face him. He pulled her against him by the waist, towering above her like a guardian.

“Well, it was far too long. I was talking to the Wartooth brothers. They think we can have a roof on this in a few weeks, and there’s hope that the interior will be finished by fall.”

“How are Tyler and Trey? Still squabbling?”

“Same as ever. I keep telling them that all they need to do is find a good wife to complete their Triad and then all of this bad blood between them would just cease to exist, but it seems that the words of a happy man are better left discarded. Wolves. What do they know, right?” he said with a big grin that wavered only a little as she jabbed him in the chest with a finger.

“Hey, behave now! We need them to finish this building before they completely fall out! You might be an excellent pilot, but I don’t think you’re great with a hammer, mister!”

“
Might
be an excellent pilot?! Missy, I’ll have you know that I am the best pilot this side of the Atlantic!” he protested playfully, feigning mock irritation and drawing another smile from Teresa.

“Oh, how ever could I doubt that!”

“That’s the spirit. Now, happy with what you’re seeing, my beauty? Will this be what you need to shape the future young minds of Shifter Grove?” he asked, cocking a brow. She turned around again and inspected the beginning stages of the building, already envisioning how it would look when it was all finished. A place where kids would learn from the beginning how to treat one another, how to learn, play and appreciate all that had been given to them. In a place like Shifter Grove, there was bound to be plenty of kids, who didn’t exactly fit the norm, and Teresa couldn’t think of anything more exciting than the chance to give them a good start in life. Well, maybe she could think of
one
thing better than that. Spending time with Slate!

“Yes, I think this will be perfect,” she said finally, a wistful smile spreading over her lips.

“Just like you,” he said, kissing her neck.

Her journey from lonely, frustrated temp to happy, beaming fiancée, soon to be mother and teacher had been abrupt and a little shocking, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way. With Slate by her side, she knew that she could do just about anything, and in Shifter Grove she finally found the community that wanted the same things she had always dreamed of – stability, openness, kindness and support. She could hardly believe that just a few months ago she had been in Mississippi, frustrated with herself and the world around her.

Slate’s hands rested on her stomach, and she squeezed his hands slightly, letting herself fall against his strong body. Yes, everything was going to be perfect.

T
HE
W
OLVES’
B
RIDE

S
ASSY
S
HIFTER
B
RIDES

B
OOK 5

BY

A
NYA
N
OWLAN
 

CHAPTER ONE